By Chase Cook
The Capital
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Firefighter 1st Class Lou Johnson knows how to raise money for charity.
The 23-year Annapolis Fire Department veteran has taken part in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s annual Fill the Boot charity campaign for more than two decades.
Each year firefighters go out into the streets with a boot and ask residents to donate to the MDA charity. This year’s charity drive began Thursday and runs through Sunday.
Johnson has a strategy to get people to donate. On Thursday, he greeted customers outside Shoppers in Annapolis with a smile, a nod and a pleasantry.
“See, what you do is put the marinara on first,” he said. “And then you take them out of the oven.”
Right after Johnson gives out his strategy, a woman walks up and drops money into the boot. Johnson smiles.
The Fill the Boot campaign has been around for more than 60 years, since the International Association of Fire Fighters committed to raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association until a cure was found for muscle-debilitating diseases.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association raises money for research and services for people suffering from those diseases.
Each year Annapolis firefighters stand around on city corners, shops and public streets to raise money for the association. In 2015, more than 100,000 firefighters raised $25.5 million across the country, according to the MDA’s website.
The Annapolis Fire Department Professional Firefighters, Local 1926, union heads up the local efforts. Annapolis firefighters raised about $20,000 last year.
This year, the department hoped to mix things up by holding an event at Armadillo’s in downtown Annapolis. They had a dunk tank, ice cream and face painting as they encouraged families to donate. They also had deals on beer and a small golf game with proceeds going to the charity.
Annapolis resident Suzanne Farrell donated money after she bought groceries at Shoppers. She said she lost her parents in a fire and believed donating not only helps with muscular dystrophy research, but builds community between citizens and firefighters.
“We all need to take care of each other,” she said.
Annapolis firefighter Lt. Tina Pitner said the charity drive gives firefighters an opportunity to interact with residents in non-emergency situations. It is a less stressful interaction than when they’re responding to an emergency.
“We like to have a chance to just talk to people,” she said. “And they get a chance to talk to us and get to know us.”
Residents who want to donate can find the firefighters throughout the city. Pitner said there will be firefighters working the crosswalks downtown.
City officials said they also can be found at busier intersections like Rowe Boulevard and Taylor Avenue and Chinquapin Round Road and Forest Drive. Service calls and heat could change those locations.
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